Foothills of the Gods
Evelyn Dunbar Webb
Foothills of the Gods
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Evelyn Dunbar Webb
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What secrets hide behind locked doors and ancient relics? Sixteen-year-old Blaas Rakendo thinks he can uncover the truth with his grandfather’s journals, but when mysterious disappearances and dark threats emerge, his summer of discovery turns into a dangerous game. Can Rake outsmart the Council Leader and survive the shadows of secrets long buried?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows sixteen-year-old Blaas Rakendo as he navigates political intrigue and dark secrets after discovering cryptic relics linked to his inheritance. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story includes themes of authority challenges, mystery, and some suspense involving disappearances and deaths. Parents should be aware of moments of tension and darker plot elements that add complexity to the narrative.
Why we rated Foothills of the Gods 12ME
Foothills of the Gods is written at a Level 7 reading level across 394 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Foothills of the Gods works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Foothills of the Gods as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suspense, Mystery, Death.
Thematically, Foothills of the Gods explores adventure, mystery, science & nature, coming of age, and political intrigue — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, mystery, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780999383445
- Pages
- 394
- Publisher
- Bumblemeyer Publications
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction